U.S. Politics · Elections · 3 outlets (L 2 · C 0 · R 0 · 1 not rated)
US midterms set to be most expensive ever
The 2026 US midterm elections are projected to be the most expensive ever conducted, with spending near $12bn according to BBC News and more than $11bn in ad spending according to The New York Times.[2, 3] The Guardian reported that more of the money is 'dark' than ever before, meaning it is impossible to get a full picture of who is spending to influence races.[1]
Major changes in US law and industry have shifted the sources of large contributions to political campaigns, according to The Guardian.[1] BBC Verify examined where the money has come from, and The New York Times' national political correspondent broke down where it is going.[2, 3]
Covered by The New York Times, BBC News and The Guardian
Read first US midterms campaign 'shattering' spending records to be most expensive ever
Where accounts differ (1)
- Facts differBBC News projected the campaign will cost nearly $12bn, while The New York Times reported more than $11bn in ad spending.[2, 3]
- BBC News · Not rated · Nov 2, 3:54 p.m. ET US midterms campaign 'shattering' spending records to be most expensive ever
The 2026 campaign is projected to cost nearly $12bn - BBC Verify looks into where all that money has come from.
- The New York Times · Leans left · Nov 2, 5:37 p.m. ET How Money Is Shaping the Midterms
The 2026 midterm election is the most expensive national midterm election in U.S. history, with more than $11 billion in ad spending. Our national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher breaks down where all that…
- BBC News · Not rated · Nov 2, 3:54 p.m. ET US midterms campaign 'shattering' spending records to be most expensive ever
How balanced is this coverage?
Of the 2 rated outlets that covered it, 2 are left of center, 0 are center and 0 are right of center. 1 more is not rated.
Too few left- or right-leaning outlets to compare: 2 of 42 left-leaning, 0 of 33 center and 0 of 38 right-leaning outlets covered it.
- Left: none.
- Leans left: The New York Times (−0.70), The Guardian (−0.70).
- Center: none.
- Leans right: none.
- Right: none.
Not rated BBC News. Not placed: they have no lean score.
Each dot is an outlet that covered it, placed by its audience-lean score (Eady et al. 2025), which measures who shares its links, not how accurate it is. The ticks under the line are all 113 rated outlets Tare reads.